A couple of new pieces of music gained over the past few days. “Second Hand Sounds Vol. 2″ by Matthew Herbert is a double CD collection of post-productions from Matthew “insert nickname here” Herbert, recorded between 1996 and 2001.

Herbert’s kind enough to divide it in two: The second disc is the dance set here, while the first includes his more “difficult” impressions. Most of the highlights come from that second set, beginning with a pair of his “hits”. “Can’t Take It” by Recloose and “Sing It Back” by Moloko. The obscurities, however, are consistent stand-outs, with Louie Austen’s “Hoping” proving that Herbert knows how to remix a pop song without removing the framework of a pop song. For better, but occasionally for worse, virtually all of these tracks are immediately recognisable as Herbert productions; the point-perfect beats, use of split second samples and crackly vocals to drive the tracks sound more like a formula than a blueprint after several soundalikes come one after another. (NB: these tracks were never meant to be heard in succession.) Also included are the Herbert remixes of his own productions, like Wishmountain’s “Aerosoul” and Doctor Rockit’s “Tape Measure”.

Also, today received Herbert’s “The Mechanices of Destruction” under his Radio Boy guise. I’ll have a listen tonight, but go to his website for more info on this one.